Reviews swing between smooth trips and sudden breakdowns. Many travellers mention easy booking, helpful staff, and clean hotels. Another group describes cancellations after payment, refunds that are slow or missing, and little or no contact once the trip is cancelled. That mix creates very positive stories alongside serious service problems.
Examples from available reviews (Oct 2017 – Feb 2026).
They took payment and shut down two days after booking.
“They took my money. 2 days later they shut down.”
Company ceased local operations and hasn't refunded or contacted the customer.
“we're still awaiting our refund of all the money we've paid into the account.”
Booking process is very easy and offers excellent prices.
“Really easy to use booking process and excellent prices”
Positive longstanding experience praising planning, reps, and reasonable prices.
“Great company, easy to deal with.”
Many reviews describe bookings being cancelled abruptly and the business shutting down. Several people say the company took payment shortly before operations stopped, and refunds are still outstanding. Some reviewers report quick help from customer reps and problems being resolved, but those comments appear less often than the cancellation complaints.
Many reviewers point to low prices and occasional discounts as the main draw. A smaller number mention extra charges, such as paid luggage fees. In the complaint-heavy group, cancelled trips and refunds still pending turn value for money into a negative.
Numerous accounts praise the booking process as easy and straightforward. Several reviewers also describe hotel stays positively, especially cleanliness and location. For a sizeable group, cancellations and refunds that remain unresolved drive a sharply negative experience.
Multiple reviews say the hotels were clean, well located, and fine for family stays. A few isolated accounts mention major cleanliness problems and cancelled accommodation that caused partial financial loss. Positive hotel feedback comes up repeatedly, while a small number of clear quality failures also appear.
Several reviewers say calls went unanswered, emails were not followed up, and contact after cancellations was limited. A smaller set praises helpful staff replies and fast refunds before or during normal operations. Most comments focus on the lack of timely updates after cancellations.
Some long-time customers describe many good holidays and hassle-free bookings. Others report the service stopping suddenly, trips being cancelled, and refunds not being paid. Overall, the reviews split between mostly positive travel experiences and very negative failures after booking.
For each review, the core experience based on original source reviews.
Sources: Trustpilot (22) · Reviews (7) · Reviews (1) · Quotes shortened · As of: February 2026
Received a fast refund but misses Aberdeen departures.
“Fast refund but wish they still did holidays from Aberdeen”
Booking cancelled within a week due to UK closure; refund outstanding.
“I'm yet to receive my refund.”
Company ceased local operations and hasn't refunded or contacted the customer.
“we're still awaiting our refund of all the money we've paid into the account.”
They ceased trading after taking payment and still requested feedback.
“They took my money and announced this the following day.”
They cancelled bookings two days after booking and still took payment.
“Balken cancelled all bookings only 2 days after booking”
Long-term customer expresses sadness but trusts refunds are being processed.
“I had 9 good years going with bulkan holidays to sunny beach”
They took payment and shut down two days after booking.
“They took my money. 2 days later they shut down.”
Holiday was cancelled so reviewer unlikely to give a good review.
“Unlikely to receive a good review after cancelling my holiday”
Holiday cancelled with no refund and no communication from the company.
“Holiday cancelled and still no refund and no communication”
Booking cancelled within a week due to UK closure; refund pending.
“cancelled it saying no longer operating from the UK.”
They closed UK operations, cancelled booking, and offered no support.
“cancelled my booking without warning.”
They took a deposit, then cancelled the holiday and are not answering the phone.
“we get a email saying they have cancelled the holiday”
Company cancelled my holiday; reviewer appreciates staff response and difficulty.
“You cancelled my holiday.”
Complains about luggage charges and Belfast flight timing, praises past experience.
“we have to pay £30 each to put our 10kg case in hold.”
Booking process was easy and straightforward.
“Easily booked”
Positive longstanding experience praising planning, reps, and reasonable prices.
“Great company, easy to deal with.”
Customer praises prompt, helpful calls and quick discount application.
“Amazing customer service, efficient, helpful and polite.”
Booking process is very easy and offers excellent prices.
“Really easy to use booking process and excellent prices”
Customer service resolved the reviewer's problem.
“Sorted my problem for me”
Booking was straightforward and easy to complete.
“Easy to book”
Longtime customer praises friendly, efficient booking agent and looks forward.
“Having travelled to Bulgaria 43 times with Balkan holidays”
Easy to book with and no problems experienced.
“Easy to book with and especially no problems.”
Family enjoyed a clean hotel, decent food and helpful staff.
“The hotel was clean, modern and comfy”
Enjoyed Sunny Beach holiday; flights and hotel were satisfactory.
“it was great.”
Hotel was clean, well-located and overall excellent.
“The hotel is clean, fantastic position next to the slope”
I wish I could have discovered your holiday services earlier. Nevertheless, I'm grateful that after a long online search, my husband found you. Our holiday in Bulgaria was fantastic. Our stay at Hotel $Apartment Sunny Day Club was exceptional. They had clean , elegant rooms and the meals were very luscious. The most exciting thing was the proximity to the beach. The kids really had fun. The only flaw is in your customer service, they need to be a little polite and patient with the customers. All of them, you deserve a four-star for the great princess, proper planning and choosing amazing destinations with unique accommodations.
Excellent customer service and a stress-free holiday at Nessebar Bay.
“Excellent customer service from Balkan Holidays.”
Hotel reviews showed poor cleanliness and cancellation meant losing 50%.
“pictures of bed bugs, dirty showers”
Trip marred by dispute and poor customer service regarding insurance.
“their Customer service is dreadful in my opinion”
Reviewer received multiple discounts and praised customer service and savings.
“Great Customer Service and money saving offeres in this age of "Austerity”
This page combines submitted experiences with public reviews from platforms such as Google, Trustpilot, etc. Recurring points are summarised without changing the content of reviews.
Balkan Holidays is a UK tour operator offering package holidays to destinations in the Balkans. It puts together flight-inclusive deals with hotel stays for leisure travellers. The trips often focus on short breaks and summer beach holidays, with options for families and groups. Customers can book standard packages and ask for help by phone or email.